Electrical deyioe for operating submerged mikes



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. E. HAIGHT. I ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR OPERATING SUBMERGED MINES, &c. No. 257,695. Patented May 9, 1882..

Inventor.-

GoryeE N. PETERS. PMWUMKW, Wnhinhn, D. Q

(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet I G. E. HAIGHT. v ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR OPERATING SUBMERGED MINES, &c.

No. 257,695. Patented May 9 1882..

In van fir:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. HAIGHT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR CF ONE-HALF TO HARVEY D. WINSOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR OPERATING SUBIIVIERGED- MINES, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,695, dated May 9, 1882.

7 Application filed September 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HAIGH'I, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Devices for Operating Stationary Submerged Mines or Torpedoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to thelet ters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present improvement relates to stationary submerged torpedoes and methods of firthrough the line, and then actuated by an increase of said battery-current.

It further consists in the employment of a battery-current sufficiently strong to throw into unison the different circuits leading to the series of fixed submerged mines through suitable apparatus at each end of theline, but not strong'en'ough to actuate said mechanisms, the current passing out through a shortercircuit ofless resistance; and, also, in the employment of a stronger current sufficient to unlock the unison stop when locked; and, finally, in the employment of a still stronger current sufli ci'ent to instantaneously explode the torpedo or mine then in electrical unison or connection.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows a diagram View of the arrangement-of my improved devices, the fixed mines and current-director bein g here shown submerged in a navigable wa- A represents the key-board apparatus, and

is placed at any suitable directing point with in an inclosing-box.

.15 is a clock'mechanism driven by asuitable spring wound by the ratchet-lever C.

E is a circuit making and breaking wheel or piece mounted upon an arbor of the mechanism B, from which it is insulated.

G G are insertions of insulating material, between which the conducting material comes, thus presenting a segment of conducting and a segment of insulating material of equal extent.

I is a needle arranged upon the same arbor which carries wheel E, and arranged tobe arrested by a series of stops which lie along the dotted line 1 2 3 4. 5.

J J are metallic springs within themaincircuit. They bear against wheel E in such manner that normally said spriugsrest against the'm'etallic portions thereof, (which are continuous,) and the main line current flows through the line.

In Fig. 2 the key-board apparatus is arnuged for firing five fixed mines of torpedoes, and the current-director in the same figure correspondingly arranged. in Fig. 1, however, the key-board is provided with ten stops and a corresponding number of submerged mines. It is evident that any number of mines may be arranged and operated in this way bya single wire, and I do not therefore confine myself to any definite number.

The current-director consists of the clock mechanism 0, driven bya springer equivalent. This mechanism carries an escapement-wheel, Q, arranged to coact with a vibrating pawl, T, operated by the pulsations of the electric ourloo rent through an eleetro-magnet, S, audits ar mature S. Upon the same arbor which carries wheel Q is an arm, R, the outer extremity of which is arranged to sweep a series of metallic plates, at e f g h, &c., each in electrical connection with one of the fixed mines or torpedoes,through wires d cf g h and bindingposts (1 e f g k The number of metallic plates and wires leading therefrom is correspondin gl y modified when a greater or less nu 1nber of mines or torpedoes are desired.

In Fig.2the arm R is shown in contact with plate (1, leading to mine No. l, and the needle I is shown lying in the direction of stop No. lot the key-board. The normal current, or current from five cells of the battery, flows from the fifth carbonthrough' wire a, post a, point a spring a wire a springs J, wheel E, wire a, to earth, and from the zinc-'pole'ot' the first cell it passes, by wire e post a", line wire L, post L, wire L, electro-magnet S, (whose armature it attracts, and holds the pawl T against one of the stops of wheel Q,) lhence by same wire L to electro-magnet U, thence to armature U, 25 where the current finds one of two routes, ac-

. cording to the intensity of the current, one through wire m, post at, frame of train of gears O, arbor r, arm It, plate d, wire d, post-d and wire 1, to fixed submerged mine No. 1. The other route is through post U wire it, and post 70 to ground. Fixed mine No. 1 is therefore in electrical connection with the weaker normal current flowing over the line-wire; but as this normal current is not of sufficient intensity to actuate the armature U of the electromagnet U against its retractile spring j the current accordingly finds its way out through post U wire 7:, and post 70, as before described, it being the route of least resistance. When it is desired to explode this mine the button N is pressed down and the switch operated. These two operations will have the effect of first breaking the connection with the fifth carbon of the battery by button 'N de. pressingswitch-lever b and, secondly, by leverc makin g contact with spring I), (the thirtyfifth carbon wire being broken through point 6 whereby the current flows through wire b frame b, trunnion-posts and trunnion to lever 11, (which was previously held down,-) where the current finds two routes, as before explained, the current from the zinc-pole finding a route through main line L. It will be thus seen that a current from sixty cells'of the battery is made to flow through th? line and the mine instantaneously exploded iy'the strong current flowin g through the usual resistancecoils of the torpedo-mine; This it does by the strongercurrentattracting ar'matureU against 60 its retractile spring, thereby shutting out the 'partment.

short circuit through wirek and compelling the current to pass through wire m, post m, frame 0 of'c1ock-work,arm R, plate d, wired, post (1 and wire 1 to mine No. 1.'

The unison device for the currentselector, consisting of lever W, operated by electromagnet'U and lever V, pin l, and pawl u, may be employed, and is fully described in the separate application before referred to or it may be dispensed with, if desired.

I do notconfine myself to the means for throwing-in the differing currents from the battery; nor do I limit my invention to the employment of a.v battery-current of three differing intensities in connection therewith. Itis obvious that a comparatively feeble current may be used to first select the desired torpedo or mine and place it in electrical connection with the battery, so as to beinstantl y exploded by any material increase of the battery-power through any suitably-devised apparatus.

When a unison device is used, the purpose of which is to insure the key-board apparatus being in unison with the current-selector, the button N is'used, which, being pressed down in the manner referred to, causes 'a current greater than the normal current and less than the current used to explode the mine to flow through the line and perform its work in the manner set forth in the pending application referred to.

This invention is particularly designed for manipulating fixed submerged mines, and admits of firing anyone of series independent of the'others by. means of a single key-boardat' a distant point, (as on shore or on shipboard,) and by means also of a single wire leading from said point to the current-selector. The en rren t-seleetor is likewise submerged and preferabl y arranged at a point central between the It is inclosed' in awater-tight com- W hen the key-board is placed on shipboard the wire is suitably arranged upon a mines.

reeland is paid out according to the morements of the vessel.

What I claim is- A series of fixed submerged mines or torpedoes, each havinga wire leading to a submerged current-selector, saidIcurrent-selector being in electrical connection through a single wire with a key-board apparatus and battery located at a distant point on shore or shipboard, the whole constructed to act in combination, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE E. HAIGHT. Witnesses:

IRA B. SMITH,

THOMAS McMA Us. 

